KIC, a novel Ca2+ binding protein with one EF-hand motif, interacts with a microtubule motor protein and regulates trichome morphogenesis

Plant Cell. 2004 Jan;16(1):185-200. doi: 10.1105/tpc.016600. Epub 2003 Dec 19.

Abstract

Kinesin-like calmodulin binding protein (KCBP) is a microtubule motor protein involved in the regulation of cell division and trichome morphogenesis. Genetic studies have shown that KCBP is likely to interact with several other proteins. To identify KCBP-interacting proteins, we used the C-terminal region of KCBP in a yeast two-hybrid screen. This screening resulted in the isolation of a novel KCBP-interacting Ca2+ binding protein (KIC). KIC, with its single EF-hand motif, bound Ca2+ at a physiological concentration. Coprecipitation with bacterially expressed protein and native KCBP, gel-mobility shift studies, and ATPase assays with the KCBP motor confirmed that KIC interacts with KCBP in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Interestingly, although both Ca2+-KIC and Ca2+-calmodulin were able to interact with KCBP and inhibit its microtubule binding activity, the concentration of Ca2+ required to inhibit the microtubule-stimulated ATPase activity of KCBP by KIC was threefold less than that required for calmodulin. Two KIC-related Ca2+ binding proteins and a centrin from Arabidopsis, which contain one and four EF-hand motifs, respectively, bound Ca2+ but did not affect microtubule binding and microtubule-stimulated ATPase activities of KCBP, indicating the specificity of Ca2+ sensors in regulating their targets. Overexpression of KIC in Arabidopsis resulted in trichomes with reduced branch number resembling the zwichel/kcbp phenotype. These results suggest that KIC modulates the activity of KCBP in response to changes in cytosolic Ca2+ and regulates trichome morphogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Calmodulin / metabolism
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Surface Extensions / genetics*
  • Cell Surface Extensions / physiology
  • EF Hand Motifs / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Calmodulin
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
  • KCBP protein, Arabidopsis
  • KIC protein, Arabidopsis
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Calcium

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY363866
  • GENBANK/AY363867
  • GENBANK/AY363868
  • GENBANK/AY363869